The one thing that Sean wanted to get out of this trip was the be at the Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV world premiere. As for me, I really wanted to participate in the Sleep No More immersive theatre experience at the McKittrick Hotel. Anything else was gravy for both of us.
We made our way over to the Chelsea area for our 7pm check in. We climbed a flight of stairs in the dark, walk through a darkened maze and were greeted by 1930s host, welcoming us to the Manderley Lounge. We were all given Venetian beak masks to wear, all the better to become anonymous and shameless voyeurs a la Eyes Wide Shut. We were told we could not take off our masks, and that we couldn’t talk (outside of the lounge). We got into a pitch black freight elevator which deposited us onto various floors, setting us loose to explore in silence.
A film noir ‘Macbeth‘ in a jazz age hotel – or rather, a 5 story, 100,000 square feet venue that presents itself as various movie sets: lounge, insane asylum, children’s ward, ballroom, candy store, chapel and cemetery (to name a few). Participants are free to move around in the absolute cavernous space, being a part of whatever wordless storyline(s) they want. And that means sometimes sprinting from room to room to follow the characters.
Fun fact: there are more than 100 rooms to explore!
And there are many non-linear Macbeth stories being acted out – so many that one could not possibly see all of them in one visit, especially as some are taking place simultaneously, albeit on different floors or corners.
If being a spectator is not your jam, you can go off and explore the meticulously detailed rooms, rifling through drawers, typing messages on the typewriters, peeking behind curtains or headstones, perusing notebooks. Sean and I were amazed by the level of detail and amount of props. no expense was spared! But with the 3 hour maximum window allotted to you, my advice is not to get too wrapped up exploring on your own.
The funnest part of Sleep No More is running around a la ‘choose your own adventure’, trying to find scenes and hoping the actors will interact with you. Actors are allowed to make contact with you, (even extract you from your friends and push you into hidden doorways and passages – not nearly as scary as it sounds), while participants are not allowed to make the first move.
And the music! The jazz songs and film noir score that would be played in the different rooms or sections of the McKittrick Hotel just added to the surreal atmosphere.
You would hear songs by Glenn Miller, The Ink Spots (I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire, When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano), Jack Buchanan (Weep No More My Baby), Ted Lewis and his Band (On the Sunny Side of the Street), Al Bowlly (Close Your Eyes), and Peggy Lee (Hallelujah, I Love Him So, Is That All There Is?)
Also amazing is that the cast are truly committed to their performances, as well as, athletic. So much movement and passion in their dancing, miming and physical acting. I enjoyed all the incredible dance sequences!
At $105 USD plus $7.50 convenience charge per person, it’s not cheap. However, Sleep No More will not disappoint. It is better than most other live entertainment. This avant-garde, fully immersive experience is worth every penny and I would not hesitate to go back again.
If your jam is Hitchcock, Kubrick, Lynch, film noir, or the Jazz Age, this “haunted house” for grown ups is an absolute must. It’ll be the best thing you do in New York. Bravo Punchdrunk for the exhilarating and bewitching production.
Photos: McKittrick Hotel
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